tripped; tripping
1
: to catch the foot against something so as to stumble
2
: to make a mistake or false step (as in morality or accuracy)
3
a
: to dance, skip, or caper with light quick steps
b
: to walk with light quick steps
4
: to stumble in articulation when speaking
5
: to make a journey
6
a
: to actuate a mechanism
b
: to become operative
7
a
: to get high on a psychedelic drug (such as LSD) : turn on
—often used with out
b
slang
: freak sense 3b
1
a
: to cause to stumble
—often used with up
b
: to cause to fail : obstruct
—often used with up
2
: to detect in a misstep, fault, or blunder
3
: to release or operate (a mechanism) especially by releasing a catch or detent
trip the fire alarm
4
: to raise (an anchor) from the bottom so as to hang free
5
a
: to pull (a yard) into a perpendicular position for lowering
b
: to hoist (a topmast) far enough to enable the fid to be withdrawn preparatory to housing or lowering
6
archaic
: to perform (a dance) lightly or nimbly
2
a
: an intense visionary experience undergone by a person who has taken a psychedelic drug (such as LSD)
b
: an exciting or unusual experience
the party was a trip
3
: absorption in or obsession with an interest, attitude, or state of mind
a guilt trip
on a nostalgia trip
4
: a faltering step caused by stumbling
5
: a stroke or catch by which a wrestler is made to lose footing
7
: a quick light step
8
a
: the action of tripping mechanically
b
: a device for tripping a mechanism (such as a catch or detent)
Examples of trip in a Sentence
Verb
He deliberately tried to trip me.
The dancers tripped off the stage.
Noun
They got back from their trip yesterday.
a trip around the world
He was on an acid trip.
an ankle injury caused by a trip
Recent Examples on the Web
Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2025
For the listener, the journey is both thrilling and desultory, like hanging out sober while your friend trips on mushrooms.
—Carrie Brownstein, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2025
Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 28 Apr. 2025
Over a 43-mile backroad trip, the PHEV returned 81.2mpg and 12kWh/100km.
—Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trip
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show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
Declan Rice tripped him from behind to earn a yellow card.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2025
For the listener, the journey is both thrilling and desultory, like hanging out sober while your friend trips on mushrooms.
—Carrie Brownstein, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2025
Noun
Visitors can opt for day rides or overnight camping trips, complete with local delicacies like sweet bread and goat cheese.
—Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 28 Apr. 2025
Over a 43-mile backroad trip, the PHEV returned 81.2mpg and 12kWh/100km.
—Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trip
Cite this Entry
“Trip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trip. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
trip
1 of 2 noun1
: an act of causing another to stumble or fall
2
a
: a traveling from one place to another : journey
a trip to Europe
b
: a brief errand or journey with a purpose that often takes place on a regular basis
a trip to the dentist
3
4
a
: a quick light step
b
: a faltering step : stumble
5
a
: the action of releasing something mechanically
b
: a device (as a catch) for releasing a mechanism
trip
2 of 2 verb
tripped; tripping
1
: to move (as in dancing or walking) with light quick steps
2
a
: to catch one's foot against something so as to stumble
don't trip over the rock
b
: to cause to stumble
someone must have tripped him
3
a
: to make or cause to make a mistake
b
: to catch making a false statement, error, or blunder
questions designed to trip her up
4
: to release or start a device usually by moving a catch
tripped the fire alarm
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